Thiruvananthapuram:
A minor girl from North Paravur in Kerala, who was forced into sex trade by her parents, appears set for another heartbreak as reports emerged on Friday that the assistant public prosecutor handling the case allegedly attempted to sabotage it.
The girl was sold for sex to more than 100 persons during 2009 and 2010 even as she was a student in classes 9 and 10. The multiple cases of abuse against her required over 50 charge sheets to be filed, and her parents have already been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment and fines in multiple cases related to the abuse of their daughter.
In the latest twist to the case, investigation officials suspect that the assistant public prosecutor handling the case, Ayub Khan, sought bribes from some of the accused and attempted to sabotage the case.
The police crime branch is reportedly in possession of recorded telephonic conversation which purportedly reveals Khan demanding money from some of the accused to help them escape prosecution. Khan reportedly told the accused he could influence the investigating officials and save them from the case, and demanded over Rs10 million (Dh57,9275) from the accused.
State home minister Ramesh Chennithala said he had directed the state police chief to look into the matter. The girl’s parents, Sudhir and Subaida, are the accused number one and two in the case that had shocked the conscience of the state.
The crime branch of police apparently conducted an undercover operation against the assistant public prosecutor after a tip-off that the prosecuting official was attempting to sabotage the case. Crime branch officials also suspect Khan to have attempted to extract money even from some of those not involved in the case through threats.
Khan was working as an assistant in the Paravur sex case to special public prosecutor, Mohan Menon. Following the information received by the crime branch, Khan has been removed from duties related to the rape case. Khan, however, said that he was unaware of the allegations against him.
The victim in the exploitation case has been given a job as a clerk in a government office in Kochi. She recently petitioned the state high court to have her police protection scaled down because it was attracting undue attention.